Resume Writing

What Is Resume?

A resume is a one or two-page summary of your education, skills, accomplishments, and experience. Your résumé’s purpose is to get your foot in the door. A resume does its job successfully if it does not exclude you from consideration.

To prepare a successful resume, you need to know how to review, summarize, and present your experiences and achievements on one page. Unless you have considerable experience, you don't need two pages. Outline your achievements briefly and concisely.

Your resume is your ticket to an interview where you can sell yourself!

Prepare an Effective Resume....

Resume Essentials: -

Before you write; take time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well as your work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier to prepare a thorough resume.

The Content of Your Resume: -

Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site addresses All your contact information should go at the top of your resume. Avoid nicknames. Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after graduation. Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose an e-mail address that sounds professional.)

Education:-

New graduates without a lot of work experience should list their educational information first. Alumni can list it after the work experience section.

Work Experience:-

Briefly give the employer an overview of work that has taught you skills. Use action words to describe your job duties. Include your work experience in reverse chronological order—that is, put your last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job. Include:

Title of position,

Name of organization

Location of work (town, state)

Dates of employment

Describe your work responsibilities with emphasis on specific skills and achievements.

Steps to a Successful Interview: -

Arrive on time.
Introduce yourself in a courteous manner.
Read company materials while you wait.
Have a firm handshake.
Listen.
Use body language to show interest.
Smile, nod, give nonverbal feedback to the interviewer.
Ask about the next step in the process.
Thank the interviewer.

Telephonic Interviews: -

For applicants, the goal of a phone interview is to secure an in-person meeting. For recruiters, it's to narrow their list of prospects. You can increase the odds of passing this initial screening if you follow the advice in these four tips:

Minimize distractions. :-

Avoid using a cell phone, if possible, says Kathleen Downs, division director, finance and accounting, at the Orlando, Fla., office of executive-search firm Robert Half International Inc. "You never know when a signal is going to be problematic," she says. "I've had that happen several times with candidates. It was hard to hear them, and calls ended prematurely."

Sharpen your verbal skills. :-

Given a phone interview's lack of eye contact and body language, candidates are evaluated largely by what they say and how they say it, according to recruiters. Interviewers listen for clues indicating such qualities as passion for the job, professionalism and whether the person might be a good cultural fit.

If you've scheduled or are anticipating a phone interview, keep notes and your resume at hand.